Stake-pocket.



K. ROSS.

STAKE POCKET. APPLICATION FILED Dsc. l. 191s.

1 ,21 8,957. Patented Mar. 13,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l Y .FI gl WIINESSES: I N'VEJVTOR Rs co.. nuomuruo.wAsmwcmwA u c.

K. ROSS.

STAKE POCKET.l APPLICATION rlLvEn-Inic. l. 1916.

PatentedMar. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY.

Unire srarns raras anion.

KENNETH Ross, or Bormi'in, MONTANA.

STAKE-POCKET.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, KENNETH Ross, a citizen of the TJnited States,residing at Bonner, in the county of Missoula and State of Montana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Stakedgockets, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and eXact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in stakepockets; and itconsists in the novel features of construction more fully set forth inthe specification and pointed out in the claims.

The present improvement is directed to car-stake pockets, the mainobject sought being to provide a pocket which will eectively hold thestakes in an upright position and thus prevent the load from spreadingat the top, such spreading as is well known, interfering with themovement of the load through tunnels and Howe trussbridges. A furtherobject is to entirely relieve the bunks or cross members supporting theload from any longitudinal strain by the elimination of any positiveconnection between the pocket and the end of the bunk. In the presentembodiment of my invention special provision is made for permanentlymaintaining the axis of the pocket in a vertical plane so that the stakewill remain in the same plane while in service. rl`he presentstake-pocket and the means by which the same is secured to the side ofthe car present mechanical advantages over prevailing forms ofstakepcckets and stake-holders, these advantages being fully apparentfrom the following detailed description of the invention in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in whichrFigure lrepresents a sideelevation of the platform of a freight car such as used for transportinglogs showing my invention ap plied thereto; Fig. 2 is a verticalcrosssection on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. Sis a top plan of thestake-pocket; Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof with side sill ofthecar in cross-section; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the pocket, partsbeing removed; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section on the line G-G ofFig. 3, showing in addition the end of the bunk in side elevation; Fig.7 is a vertical cross-sectional detail on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8is an enlarged side elevational detail o f the locking latch and tripperwith part of poelfet 'wall in section; Fig. 9

Specification of Letters atent. Pagnted B131', 13, 1917,

Application filed December 1, 1916. l

Serial No. 134.339.

aside elevation of the locking latch; Fig. is an inner edge view of thesame; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the tripper for the latchgand Fig.12 isV an inner edge view thereof.

Referring to the drawing, 1, represents the side sill of the platform orframe of a car, said sill in the present embodiment of my inventionbeing a structural member in the form of a flanged plate or channelbeam, although I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to anyparticular cross section of side sill or the material of which the sameis constructed or composed. Bolted to the side sill 1 is the pocket-bodyor casting 2 on the outer face of which is formed the substantiallysemi-cylindrical pocket formation or depression Z having the bottomsloping bounding edges c, e, as shown. Theupper jortions of the sideedges of said depression are recessed-to a suitable depth leavingshoulders s for the support of the terminals of the substantiallysemi-cylindrical cap-piece 3 operating as a complementary member to thepocket-body, and forming with the concave walls of the depression Z anopening or passage-way O whose walls entirely surround the stake Sinserted thereinto. Onone side, the cap 3 is provided with a centrallydisposed perforated ear or lug Ll tol which is coupled one endY of alink 5, the opposite end of the link being connected to a U-bolt 6 whosearms are passed through openings o, o, in the adiacent side of thepocket-body 2 (Fig. 5), the nuts n securing said bolt to the body. Onthe opposite side, the cap 8 is provided with a centrally disposed lug`or ear 4 having an elongated slot h which is freely tiraversableV byU-shaped clevis 7 the free ends of whose arms are connected by a pin 8to which is pivotally secured between said arms one end of alatch orhook 9 operating freely in the vertically elongated slot or opening ofthe pocketbody or plate 2. The free end of the latch is provided with alocking head m which, when the latch is in its depressed or lockingposition engages the plate 2 below the bottom of the slot t, said plateserving as a keeper for the latch (Fig. 8). The latch may be disengagedfrom Vthe plate 2 by means of a tripper 10 Vpivoted at one end to aheaded stud or pin 11 on the adj acent side wall of a rear cavity orreceptacle 12 by which the end of the cross timber or car bunk 13 isreceived. The tripper 1G in shape resembles a bell-crank lever,oscillating about the aXis of the stud 11, one arm of the bell-crankbeing in the form of a {inger a above which is formed a cavity c (Fig.11) which receives the free end of the latch, the finger being inpermanent engagement with the locking head m of the latch. To the eye cof the other lever arm may be attached a cord or chain (not shown) foroperating the tripper. When the latter is oscillated to the dottedposition indicated in Fig. 8, the latch will be raised to its unlockedor released position, and may be withdrawnrfrom the slot t by moving theclevis 7 outwardly along the slot 7L of the lug or ear Ll. In thismanner one side or end of the cap 3 may be readily uncoupled from thebody 2 and swung outwardly (about the U-bolt 6 as an axis) wheneveroccasion arises to remove a stake (dotted position Fig. 3). l/Vhen thelatch 9 is down, the tripper 10 serves the purpose of a lock, preventingaccidental displacement or movement of the latch which cannot be raisedwithout an upward oscillation of the finger a )ecause conlined by thewalls of the cavity c, (Fig. 8).

As was pointed out above, the pocket-body is secured to the side sills 1of the car. In the present embodiment of my invention the body or plate2 is bolted to the side sill, the plate being provided with bolt holes oto receive the bolts 14, and with holes o to receive the threaded endsof the arms of the U-bolt or strap 15 which passes around the lowerterminal of the stake. The upper portion of the pocket-body (oppositethe bottom of the cavity 12) is provided with openings z'. i, forreceiving the terminals of the cross tie-rods 16, by which the membersof each pair of pocket bodies disposed opposite one another on the sidesof the car are tied together. It is to be understood of course that forevery pocket-body on one side of the car there is a correspondingpocket-body on the opposite side, the two being tied together by thetension members or rods 16. The tie rods are disposed in pairs, with onerod 'on each side of a bunk 13, the terminals of the bunks beingreceived in the cavities or pockets 12 of the oppositely placedpocket-bodies 2. a bunk being thus confined between two tie-rods (Fig.3). The pocket formations or cavities 12 rest directly on the upperflanges of the sills 1, the tie-rods 16 connecting oppositepocket-bodies being raised slightly above the side sills or platform ofwhich they form a part, and serving not only as ties between opposingpocket-bodies`r but means for relieving the strain on the car sills.Thus the cross rods 16 serve the double function of keeping the pocketsin place and of tying the sills. rlhe sides and bottom oic the terminalsof the bunks received by the cavities or bunkspockets 12 are recessed orrabbeted so as to be snugly received by the cavity, the bottom recessbeing of a depth to bring the lower face or" the bunk in the plane ofthe bottom face of the cavity (Fig. 6). The walls of the cavities 12 aresuliiciently deep t0 protect the ends of the bunk dropped thereinto, andwhen the bunks are once in place .in thecavities they require nobolting, since, under my improvement the bunks are not required to takecare of any portion of the strain imposed by the load on the stakes Sand pocket-bodies 2.

IVithout the complementary member 3 the depression or semicylindricalformation Z can scarcely be considered as a pocket; and it mayaccordingly be assumed that said complementary member enters into theconstruction of the stake-pocket proper. In

lthe present embodiment of my invention the passage O formed by theinner walls oi the member 3' and of the depression ,CZ is cylindrical,that is to say circular in cross-section; but I desire it to beunderstood that I need not adhere to this particular cross-section andany other form of cross-section, such as elliptical, polygonal and thelike comes within the scope of my invention. Ot course the holder orsupport for the stake S is not complete without the U-bolt 15; and whilethis bolt is not strictly a. part of the pocket it cooperates with thepocket proper so as to rigidly hold the bottom of the stake againstmovement, the nuts n on the screw-threaded terminals of the bolt armsmaking it possible to adjust the available opening through the bolt soas to grip the stake with any degree of firmness desired. Thestake-pocket proper may be said to be without a bottom, or to have anopen bottom, such open bottom allowing the stake to be driven into thepocket to firmly hug the pocket walls, and

the walls of the loop formed by the U-bolt. Especially is the openpocket desirable in cases where the stakes become seasoned and loose inthe pockets while in use. rIhe open bottoms of the pockets permit theloosened stakes to be driven and wedged in more deeply into the pockets,thereby giving eX- cellent service. In addition the adjustable U-bolt 15may be positioned to grip the lower end of the stake with any degree offirmness. In practice of course it is to be understood that before astake is driven into its pocket, the member 3 is first swung to closedposition and locked by the latch 9 to the plate 2 (as a keeper), thetripper 10 being oscillated to lock the latch against disengagement fromsaid plate as previously described. The U-bolt 15 may be set to properposition to grip the stake while the latter is being driven intoitspocket, or be passed about and caused to grip the lower end of the stakeafter the stake has been fully inserted into the pocket.

For convenience, we may consider the cavity or receptacle 12 whichreceives the end of the car bunk 13 as a pocket; so that it would followthat the casting or pocket-body 2 is provided with two pockets, one forreceiving a stake, and the other for receiving the end of the bunk, thepockets being on opposite sides of the casting and opposite one another.As previously pointed out, the present construction prevents the loadirom spreading at the top by maintaining the stakes permanently in anupright position or in truly vertical planes. This is made possible bythe tie rods 16, their position being such as to effectively resist theoutward thrust of the load against the stakes. Under this thrust theplates 2 would naturally tend to oscillate awayfrom the sills 1 aboutfulcrums located in the region of the U-bolts 15; but the tie-rods 16are positioned high enough (being above the sills 1) to take up andresist this thrust and thereby maintain the plates and the axes of thestake-pockets in vertical planes, the plates being held in permanentrigid connection with the sills 1 to which the outward thrust aforesaidis communicated, no part of this strain or thrust being however com- Amunicated to the bunks 13 which support the logs or load. The axes ofthe stakepockets being thus maintained in vertical planes it followsthat the stakes driven into them will remain in an upright positionthereby preventing the load from spreading at the top. The constructionhere shown need not of course be adhered to and changes within thepurview of the skilled mechanic might be resorted to without departingfrom the nature or spirit of the invention. Features shown but notspecifically alluded to are well understood in the art and require nodescription in the present connection.

Having described my invention what I claim is- 1. A member provided witha stakepocket, means for securing the member to the body of a car, anda. tie or tension rod leading from the member to a corresponding memberplaced in opposed relation thereto for connecting the members andthereby maintaining the axes of the pockets of the respective members invertical positions.

2. .A member provided with a stakepocket, and with a bunk pocketpartitioned therefrom.

3. A member provided with a stakepocket on one side and with a bunkpocket partitioned therefrom lon the opposite side.

4. A member provided with a stakepocket on one side and with a bunkpocket on the opposite side opposite to and partitioned from thestake-pocket.

5. A pocket-body provided with a depression on one side, a movablecomplementary member secured to the pocket-body and operating with thewalls of said depression to form an open-bottomed stake-pocket, and

a member positioned below the pocket for holding the lower end of thestake inserted into the pocket.

6. A pocket-body provided with a depression on one side, a movablecomplementary `member secured to the pocket-body and operating with thewalls of said depression to 'form a pocket for receiving a stake, and asuitable formation on the pocket-body opposite the complementary memberfor receiving the end of a car bunk.

7. In combination with the side members of a car platform, a pocket-bodysecured to each side member on opposite sides of the car and projectinga suitable distance above said side member, means for securing thepocket-bodies to the side members at points below the upper edges ofsaid members, tie members spanning the platform and connecting thepocket-bodies at points above the upper edges of the side members of thecar, and stake-pockets on said pocket members.

S. In combination with the side sills of a car platform, a pocket-bodysecured to each sill on opposite sides of the car and projecting asuitable distance above said sill, means for securing the pocket-bodiesto the sills at points below the upper edges ot the sills, astake-pocket on the outer face of each pocket-body, an inwardlyprojecting bunk pocket opposite the stake-pocket positioned above theupper edge of the sill, and tension members on opposite sides of thebunk-pockets for connecting or tying together the oppositely disposedpocket-bodies.

9. A pocket-body or plate provided on one side with a concaveddepression, a complementary substantially semi-cylindrical member linkedat one end to the plate on one side of the depression aforesaid andoperating to form with the walls of said depression an open bottomedpocket for receiving a stake, a latch linked to the opposite end of saidmember and operating through an opening of the plate, and a trippermember on the plate for operating the latch.

10. In a pocket-body, a stake-pocket provided with a cap forming adetachable section of the pocket wall, a latch linked to one end of thecap and passing loosely through the wall of the pocket-body, alocking-head terminating the free end of the latch and engaging the wallof the pocket-body for a locked position of the latch, a tripping leverprovided with a cavity for receiving the free end of the latch andhaving a linger or arm engaging the locking head of the latch,

whereby upon an oscillation of the tripping lever in a given directionthe finger actuates the latch and releases the locking head thereof fromengagement withrthe wall of the pocket-body.

l1. In combination with a pocket-body provided with a centrally disposeddepression, a U-bolt carried by the pocket-body on one side of thedepressiom'a semi-cylindrical cap linked one end to the U-bolt andadapted to swing in a plane transverse to the axis of the depression, aslotted ear on the opposite end of the cap, a clevis operating in theslot of said ear, a latch hinged to the olevis and free to operatethrough the pocket-body, and a locking tripper member hinged to thepocket-body for controlling the latch.

l2. A stake-pocket comprising a plate provided on one side With asemi-cylindrical vertically disposed depression, a semi-cylindrical caplinked at one end to the plate and operating' when swung to closedposition to form vith the upper portion of said depression a cylindricalpassage or open-bottomed stake-pocket, means for locking the free end ofthe cap to the plate, and a U-bolt positioned belowv the pocket thusformed to receive the bottom terminal of the stake inserted into thepocket.

i3. rfi pocket-body provided With a stakepocket on one side, said pockethaving a movable section operating to release the stake with a movementof the section in one direction, a bunk pocket on the opposite side ofthe pocket-body, a latch carried by the movable section of thestake-pocket and operating through the pocket-body, and a tripperpivoted to the Wall of the bunk pocket for controlling the latch.

14. En combination with the side sills of a car frame, pocket-bodiessecured to the outer faces of the sills and disposed opposite oneanother, means for securing the pocketbodies to the sills, and tensionmembers disposed across the car above the sills and connecting the upperportions of the respective pocket-bodies for holding the pocket-bodiesagainst spreading and thereby maintaining the stakes inserted into thepockets in an upright position.

l5. A pocket-body or plate provided With a stale-pocket on one side,said pocket having inclosing Walls for the sta re opposite the upperterminal of the plate, and a bunk pocket or cavity disposed on theopposite side of the plate opposite the stake-inclosing' Wallsaforesaid.

16. In combination with a car sill, a plate provided With an open topbunk-pocket overlianging the sill and facing the inside of the car, andprovided with a stake-pocket opposite to and partitioned from the bunkpocket and facing outwardly or away from the car.

17. In combination with a car side sill, a pocket-body provided with abunk-pocket or open top receptacle resting on the sill and facing towardthe inside of the car.

18. In combination With a car side sill, a pocket-body provided With abunk-pocket or receptacle supported on the sill, means for securing thepocket-body to the sill, a;

stake-pocket opposite the bunk pocket, tension members leading from thepocket-body across the car and above the sill, and means on the oppositeside of the car for anchoring the opposite ends of the tension members.4

19. ln combination with the side sills of a car, pocket-bodies securedto the sills on opposite sides of the car, and disposed opposite oneanother transversely across the car, and projecting a suitable distanceabove the sills, means for securing the pocket-bodies to the sills, andcross-tension members or ties above the sills for connecting togetherthe upper portions of oppositely l disposed pocket-bodies formaintaining the axes of the pockets in vertical planes and the stakesinserted thereinto in an upright position.

20. ln combination with a pocket-body provided With a depression on oneside, a detachable complementary member shouldered to the pocket-bodyand operating to form with the Walls of said depression a passage oropen-bottomed pocket for receiving a stake.

In testimony whereof l aiiix my signature.l in presence of tWoWitnesses.

KENNETH ROSS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

